Qasrin Talmudic Village in the Golan Heights

I will give you my simplistic understanding of what "the Golan heights" means.  It's an area of northern Israel to the east of the upper Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee (this body of water is also called Lake Tiberias and Kinneret). It's obviously mountainous, but to my eyes these are large hills.  This is the area where the three main sources of the Jordan River are, so Israel, Syria and Lebanon would all like to own it.  Currently, since 1967, it is part of Israel, though I think some say it is occupied territory.  Apparently the British fellow who made the divisions back in 1948 did not understand about the water, and his dividing pencil line, which represents 130 feet, goes right over the springs of Dan.  We spent our first two days in this area, checking out the spring at Tel Dan and the one at Banias.  We could hear gunfire in the mountains near us.  We asked several folks where the border lines were but didn't get satisfactory answers.  There were plenty of tourists, and we all seemed to feel safe.  Someone commented that the Syrians were probably occupied with their civil unrest and not too concerned at the moment with the border.  There were very few towns or houses that we saw in this area.

One town we did see was the reconstructed town of Qasrin from around 300 AD.  It was charming, with a synagogue and houses, olive presses and blacksmith area.  Unlike most of the ruins we saw, here you could get a real feel for living in a village in Israel 1700 years ago.

Inside a house

Donkeys were used to work the olive press.  I'm not saying anything.

Another olive press

Sometimes I think we could benefit, living in this kind of close-knit community.

I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples...  Gen 48:4

Area and tools for stonework

Ever present military